Sports

Young Cubs Fan Hit By Foul Ball Leaves Hospital

Dominic DiAngi Was Injured By Foul Ball At Thursday Game

CHICAGO (CBS) ― A young Chicago boy hit by a baseball at a Cubs game went home from the hospital on Wednesday. CBS 2's Susan Carlson reports that 7-year-old Dominic DiAngi will spend the night at home for the first time in almost a week.

Dominic was rushed to the hospital last Thursday after a foul ball fractured his skull. On Wednesday, he was walking on his own; wearing a Cubs hat and Ted Lilly jersey as he bravely faced a swarm of reporters before leaving Children's Memorial Hospital.

Dominic said he was anxious to go home to Frankfort, but he's had some interesting visitors during his hospital stay.

"Derrek Lee, Ted Lilly and different people," Dominic said.

His father Peter DiAngi said, "We're relieved and we're thankful to so many people. We're thankful to God."

His mother Pamela DiAngi said, "I couldn't ask for a better outcome. We were terrified...terrified."

It was during last Thursday's Cubs game at Wrigley Field that Dominic was struck by a line drive hit by Ted Lilly.

"The speed of that ball and then seeing him down, knowing he took the full front of it, that just sickened me," Peter DiAngi said.

Neurosurgeon Dr. Tord Aldren said, "He had … blood outside the head, bruising on the brain and he had the skull fracture."

Aldren said the first 12 hours were critical, but Dominic has made a remarkable recovery. It's unknown if he'll suffer any long term consequences.

"We don't know right now. We're gonna do some re-assessing in terms of imaging in another month or so," Aldren said.

What's the first thing Dominic wants to do when he gets home? "Play baseball," Dominic said.

His father said, "I hope to have him back on the pitcher's mound real soon, without that helmet on, and enjoying life."

Doctors said because of his injuries, Dominic probably doesn't even remember being struck.

Peter DiAngi also said he doesn't think there should be any changes at Wrigley to prevent this from happening again. He said even though he hates that this happened to his son, he's a traditionalist and he feels strongly that protective measures would infringe on the integrity of the game.

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